Pictured: Darren Vaux of BIA handing over the ICOMIA Presidency to Frank Hugelmeyer of NMMA Former BIA President and long-serving Director Darren Vaux last week completed his term as ICOMIA President.
Current BIA President Adam Smith paid tribute to Darren for his contribution and legacy both in Australia and Internationally.
“On behalf of the BIA Board, I would like to commend Darren for his extraordinary contribution to the boating industry. For more than 20 years, he has led from the front in numerous areas from driving our strategic direction and building industry alliances, to forming key policy positions and engaging governments with vigour and compelling advocacy at every level.
“Darren’s contribution will resonate for years to come and he is certain to remain a keen supporter of our industry. We wish he and Nicky all the best for the future.”
Newly appointed ICOMIA President Frank Hugelmeyer summed it up when he said: “Thank you for your service and impact, Darren. You left a great foundation to build upon.”
At the most recent BIA AGM, Darren said the time was right for him to step aside from the Board of the BIA and make room for our next generation of leaders to take our industry association forward.
“It has been my honour and privilege to serve the industry though a wide a variety of roles and committees over the past 20 years,” he said. “I have seen so many changes and developments in our industry and enjoyed participating in key moments in our history.”
Darren’s contributions have been many and some of those include the following:
In the early 2000s, the BIA created the Maritime Access and Infrastructure Council in NSW chaired by the Hon John Murray where Darren helped to bring a range of government departments together to try and create greater co-operation and co-ordination. This created a step change in our relationship with the NSW Government departments and our foundation for future advocacy.
The Marine Card System was developed based on the example of Darren’s experience with the Construction White Card and as the natural next step in our collaboration with Safe Work NSW. Darren believes this program still has serious untapped potential for the BIA and our industry.
The Boating Industries Alliance Australia was created in 2010 with the aim to bring all State organisations into a National BIA. The effort saw South Australia, then Queensland join NSW in the National BIA over 2014-2016. The success of the structure and national profile today is testament to the hard work of all involved in efforts bringing industry together.
Maintaining a close professional relationship between BIA, MIA and AIMEX to bolster in wider industry interests.
Guiding the strategic key priorities for the BIA circa 2012 around three pillars: 1. Growing participation in recreational boating, 2. Strengthening and improving our advocacy to government and 3. Training, education and career pathways. These continue to inform our strategic key priorities today.
Taking up the role of Australian Representative to ICOMIA in 2012 and to work on elevating the Australian Industry’s global standing.
Becoming President of BIA for 2019 to 2022 which spanned the challenges that arose in early 2020 with COVID-19 and leading the restructure of the BIA and restructuring of Boat Show delivery.
Taking on the role President of ICOMIA two and a half years ago, where Darren was instrumental in the modernisation of its constitution, governance and direction. His term as President saw the appointment of Joe Lynch as CEO, setting a new business plan, modernising the Constitution, refocusing ICOMIA as a global organisation with growth in Asia and the Middle east, and the completion, launch and delivery of ICOMIA’s largest research project, Propelling our Future.
In 2023 Darren was made a Life Member of the BIA Ltd.
Darren summed up his time by acknowledging some of the extraordinary people who have given so much to the marine industry in Australia.
“I have been fortunate to work with many amazing people including, amongst many others, BIA forefathers and Life Members, Peter Hunt, Ian McAndrew and Bob Basham who are sadly no longer with us but their legacy and vision lives on,” he said.
“The very hard work of the Board, Executive and Staff over the years has achieved great progress for our industry. I have been proud to play my part.”
